So today I have a great post for you, yep another amazing blog tour and book to share. Today its for The Guestbook by Andrea Hurst and she has answered some great questions for me. So let's get this up so you can read. Enjoy!
- Can you tell us something interesting about your writing process?
My process has been
different for each book, but there is always one main event that inspires the
story and everything moves from there.
My latest book came
from a dream. It inspired the characters, and with this novel, the main
protagonist, Cathy, just started talking to me in first-person present tense
and told me her story in 42,000 words. After that, I filled in the story
through research, world-building, and some personal memories.
- What part of the writing process is the easiest/hardest for you?
Writing the first
draft, when everything is flowing and I don’t have to engage my left brain as
much, is easier. The hardest part for me is anything that requires precise
detail work, such as line editing.
- Who is your favorite character (that you’ve written)?
Cheesy as it sounds,
that’s like choosing a favorite child. I spend months, sometimes years, with
each character, and each is special in his or her own way.
- Is there anything you’re working on now?
I’ve just completed a
draft of my new women’s fiction novel, Always
with You, which takes place in the 1970s on the Russian River in
California. I describe it as Bridges of
Madison County meets Ghost with a
twist.
I’m also working on
the second book in my Madrona Island Series, Tea and Comfort, which features Kyla, the mysterious and beautiful
tealeaf reader and herbalist.
- Where did the idea for your book come from?
A few years ago, I
was at the Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast on Whidbey Island with a good friend.
Every spare moment she got, she was reading entries in their guestbook.
Finally, I asked he what was so fascinating, and she said that she loved
hearing about other people’s lives, experiences, loves, and adventures. In that
moment, the story just took hold of me and never let go.
- Are any of the characters inspired by someone in real life?
Yes. The elderly
sisters, Betty and Shirley, who live next door to Lily, are based on some very
dear friends. All the other characters are fictitious, but have qualities of
people I have known.
- Do you follow a writing schedule, or just write whenever you get the chance?
Every Wednesday, I go
down the Coupeville Pier and join the group of writers at a coffee house that
overlooks Penn Cove. We call ourselves Just Write. Writing can be very
isolating, and I find the company of other writers to be very supportive.
The rest of the week,
I try to write as many days as possible around my busy schedule as a literary
agent, developmental editor, and instructor.
- Do you listen to music while you write, or do you prefer quiet?
I really prefer quiet
when I’m writing, but I enjoy music
when I’m thinking and imagining the book.
- If you could jump in to any book and live there, which book would you choose?
I wouldn’t mind
living in my first book of the Madrona Island Trilogy, The Guestbook. Lily lives in a beautiful bed and breakfast with the
love of her life, wonderful friends, and great food. Who could ask for more?
So what did you all think?? Below you can check out the information about this great book and the author, plus also another great giveaway!
About the Book
This book weaves together the
heart of Nicholas Sparks, the romance of Nora Roberts, and the charm of Debbie
Macomber.
Fleeing her picture-perfect marriage among the privileged set of Brentwood and the wreckage of a failed marriage, Lily Parkins decides to move to the only place that still holds happy memories, her grandmother’s old farmhouse. The lush and majestic setting of the Pacific Northwest calls to her and offers a place of refuge and perhaps renewal. Her grandmother has passed away, leaving the Madrona Island Bed & Breakfast Inn to Lily.
Left with only an old guestbook as her guide–a curious book full of letters, recipes, and glimpses into her family history–Lily is determined to embrace her newfound independence and recreate herself, one page at a time. With the help of the quirky island residents she has befriended, she slowly finds the strength to seek out happiness on her own terms. But as soon as she has sworn off men and is standing on her own two feet, Lily meets Ian, the alluring artist who lives next door, and her new life is suddenly thrown off course. The last thing she wants to do right now is to open her heart to another man.
Ultimately, Lily must decide if it’s worth giving up her soul for security or risking everything to follow her heart.
Fleeing her picture-perfect marriage among the privileged set of Brentwood and the wreckage of a failed marriage, Lily Parkins decides to move to the only place that still holds happy memories, her grandmother’s old farmhouse. The lush and majestic setting of the Pacific Northwest calls to her and offers a place of refuge and perhaps renewal. Her grandmother has passed away, leaving the Madrona Island Bed & Breakfast Inn to Lily.
Left with only an old guestbook as her guide–a curious book full of letters, recipes, and glimpses into her family history–Lily is determined to embrace her newfound independence and recreate herself, one page at a time. With the help of the quirky island residents she has befriended, she slowly finds the strength to seek out happiness on her own terms. But as soon as she has sworn off men and is standing on her own two feet, Lily meets Ian, the alluring artist who lives next door, and her new life is suddenly thrown off course. The last thing she wants to do right now is to open her heart to another man.
Ultimately, Lily must decide if it’s worth giving up her soul for security or risking everything to follow her heart.
About the Author
When
not visiting local farmer’s markets or indulging her love for chocolate, Andrea
Hurst is an author and literary agent. Her passion for books drives her to find
and write stories that take readers on a journey to another place and leave
them with an unforgettable impression. She is a developmental editor for
publishers and authors, an instructor in creative writing at the Northwest
Institute of Literary Arts, and a webinar presenter for Writers Digest. She
lives with her dachshunds in the Pacific Northwest, on an island much like the
fictional Madrona, with all of its natural beauty and small town charm. Her
published books include The Lazy Dog’s Guide to Enlightenment and Everybody’s
Natural Food Cookbook, and she co-authored A Book of Miracles. To learn more
about Andrea and her books, visit www.AndreaHurst-author.com or
www.andreahurst.com.
Author Links
Website: http://andreahurst-author.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/andreahurst_
Book on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16086669-the-guestbook
Giveaway
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